Design Specialist

Design Specialist

Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Philadelphia, PA

The Public Interest Network’s Creative Team seeks a Design Specialist. Our team helps our network win the country over to a forward-looking agenda by messaging, packaging and amplifying our organizations, our campaigns and our staff.

We are looking for a smart, creative, inspired and detail-oriented candidate to join our team and help design and create the content for PIRG, Environment America and other groups in our network. This position requires exercising discretion and independent judgment in making decisions in matters of significance.

Some of the things you will do

• Connect: Work with the PIRG and Environment America state directors and program teams, learn our issues and campaigns, and keep on top of our action, progress and results.
• Design materials and online content: Create logos, event signs, web pages, interactive charts, infographics, posters, annual reports and more.
• Amplify our impact: Use templates and design systems to magnify our impact, and communicate our messages in 30 states, dozens of media markets, and a variety of offline and online channels.
• Get and stay organized: Come up with a plan that puts you in a position to deliver content that makes an impact. Manage your time and keep track of your progress. Organize the team of people you need to take your work from concept to completion.
• Get training and direction: Practice and perfect your craft. Learn new skills. Get direction up front, creative direction throughout, and an evaluation at completion. Keep getting better at what you do.

Why you’ll be great for it

• You’re creative and not only have great ideas, but you know how to turn them into great stuff. You can help build a powerful online presence for a person, product or brand. You’ve created content that engages people, and materials that grab attention.
• You’re a clear thinker who can quickly get your head around an issue. You can take complex ideas, and turn them into clear concepts. You can take a clear concept and turn it into an unforgettable piece of online content or printed material.
• You’re strategic and understand how to come up with solutions that not only solve today’s communication challenge, but set us up for success the next time.
• You’re hungry to learn and adapt well to changing circumstances and new developments. You want to work with an experienced team, who can help you achieve more today than you did yesterday.
• You’re organized. You value clear goals and know how to prioritize tasks to get things done, and done on time. You’re a planner and like to check things off your list.
• You’re driven to change the world. The planet needs saving, and you’re ready to help save it. You believe we can organize our lives to be healthier, safer and less wasteful, and you’re ready to do your part to make it happen. You’re looking for a calling, not just a job.

Required skills and experience

• You have extensive graphic design and multi page layout experience.
• You have expertise with Adobe InDesign.
• You have a working knowledge of the rest of the Adobe Creative Suite.
• You know how to get things ready for print and production.

Bonus skills and experience

• Data & information: Can you explain statistical significance and medians v. averages? Are you able to turn raw data into a chart that looks cool and communicates something meaningful? Are you a Google Sheets wizard?
• Writing: Are you a solid writer, with a strong voice and clear prose?
• Other: Are you a good photographer, illustrator or videographer?

Compensation and Benefits

The target annual compensation for this position is $31,500-$35,000 and depends on relevant experience, education, and location. Candidates on the lower end of directly relevant experience should expect to be on the lower end of this range; candidates on the higher end of relevant experience are likely to be on the higher end of this range. The Public Interest Network offers an excellent benefits package. Our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, paid time off, our commuter benefit program, a 401(k) plan with employer match, parental leave, long term disability insurance, and may include needs-based student loan assistance. We also offer an excellent training program and opportunities for advancement.

Location: This position could be based in Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; or Philadelphia, PA.

Our Mission and Values

Why work with The Public Interest Network? Check out 10 reasons on our website.

The Public Interest Network operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a better world and a strategic approach to social change. Visit our website for things you should know about our network when you apply.

Fund for the Public Interest is an equal opportunity employer.

COVID-19: We take COVID-19 safety very seriously. Employees must follow our COVID safety protocols and be fully vaccinated and boosted. Accommodations are provided to the extent required by law.

About The Public Interest Network

The Public Interest Network operates and supports more than a dozen organizations – including PIRG, Environment America and their state affiliates – committed to a shared vision of a better world and a strategic approach to change.

Our work focuses on the problems that arise from America’s single-minded pursuit of endless economic growth: We’re still burning fossil fuels even though it’s changing the climate. We keep giving antibiotics to healthy livestock, even though it leads to “superbugs” that are antibiotic-resistant. We use plastic products for a few minutes only to throw them away so they pollute the oceans for centuries. 

And our approach is unique: We focus on the big picture, but are relentlessly pragmatic and prioritize making a difference in people’s lives over making a statement. We work with everybody to make change happen, political ideology aside, championing good ideas wherever they come from. And we are serious about the work — we set clear goals, benchmarks and systems to measure our progress, and hold ourselves accountable to making change now and building for the future.

This unique approach gives our staff an opportunity to make a concrete difference for the environment and the public interest — just as hundreds of dedicated staff have done over our 50 year history. If you want to add to this change-making legacy; if you have the passion and the drive that it takes; if you’re looking for a mission, not just a job — then let’s talk.